Ball hurling device for simulated bowling



Sept. 16, 1952 M. HUBER BALL HURLING DEVICE FOR SIMULATED BOWLING 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec.

V Inventor" NE? tin Hub er-r .b v I I M's WflTorfle s Sept. 16, 1952 M. HUBER BALL HURLING DEVICE FOR SIMULATED BOWLING 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 fr? v erzor Mart/'2 Huber b 'Y H425 fitter-Mays as the operator may choose.

Patented Sept. 16,. 1952 BALL HURLING DEVICE Fon SIMULATED I BOWLING Martin Huber, Munich, Germany Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,278

In Germany January 2, 1950 I Claims. 1

- My invention relates to games and particularly to a toy bowling game. More specifically, it relates to an apparatus for hurling or throwing a toy bowling ball or the like. 7

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this character for hurling a toy bowling ball, and which is provided with means for imparting a spinning movement to the ballin either of two directions, at the option of the operator, whereby the ball will travel" in a path which curves either to the left or to the right 7 Another object is to provide a device of this character in which the rate of the spinning movement imparted to the ball may be varied, whereby the degree of curvature of the path thereof may be varied. Another object is to provide such a device in which the velocity at which the ball is hurled may be varied at the option of the operator. A further object is to provide a device in which the directionin which the ball is hurled may be varied and the speed at which it is hurled may also be varied by using either the right or the left hand of the operator.

I accomplish these objects by means of the novel elements and thecombinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated-in the accompanying drawings in which-- 2 end a ball gripping means represented generally by the numeral I! which is secured to a hollow I shaft l8 by means of a set screw 19' (see Fig. 1).

Fig. l is an elevation view of'my device with certain portions broken away and showing it clamped to a table or board forming the alley along which the ball is thrown; and

Fig.2 isa right hand view of the device, as

a shown in Fig. 1, with the movable ball-hurling element in substantially a vertical position.

Referring to the drawing I My device comprises a base plate I which is pivotally connected at 2 to an underlying plate 3 which is adapted to be secured to a'table top 4, 'or the like, by clamps, such as shown at 5 and 6.

The base plate I carries two 'spacedupright members, 1 and 8, each of which is provided on the outer side thereof near the bottom, with a hand grip 9 by means of which the base plate I and the uprights] and 8 may be swung about the pivotal connection 2 with either the right or the left hand of the operator. Mounted in sleeve bearings 10 and ll which'are secured in the uprights 1 and 8, respectively, by means of screws 12 and I3, is a horizontal shaft 14 which is freely rotatable in said bearings. Secured to the shaft M by means of the set screw 15 (see Fig. 2) is a pendulous element represented generally by the numeral Hi. This element carries at its lower The shaft l8 extends axially of the pendulous element and is rotatably mounted in the bearings 20 and 2| (see Fig. l).

The ball gripping element ll comprises a hollow, spherical dome or shell 22 having three arcuate ball gripping members 23 pivotally mounted therein, as shownat' 24 in Fig. 1. These elements are adapted to grip the ball in a zone extending slightly below the equatorial zone thereof and are'yieldinglyheld in contact with the ball by means of the connecting helical tension springs 25. The gripping members 23 have extensions 26 disposed on the opposite sides of their pivotal connections 24 which are in contact with a circular disc 27. The disc 21 isconnected to a push rod 28 extending through thehollow shaft l8 and which, at its upper end, is adapted to cooperate with the cam 28 secured to the sleeve bearing ID by means of the set screw 30. The tension of the springs 25 normally maintains the upper end of the rod 28 in contact with the surface of the cam 29. The cam 29 is provided with at least one high point or zone 3! and, when the end of the rod 28 rides up and upon thiszone, the disc 21 depresses the extensions 25' of the ball-gripping means and effects an opening movement 0f said means against the tension of the springs 25 to release the ball. The position of the high point 3! of the cam may be adjusted by loosening the set screw 38, turning the cam on the sleeve Ill and tightening the set screw to hold it in adjusted position.

In order to impart a spinning motion to the ball 32 so that itwill traverse a curved path after it is delivered from the hurling mechanism, I have provided a means for rotating the hollow shaft IS in its bearings. This means comprises a friction wheel 33 which is slidable longitudinally on the shaft I8 by means of the knob 3 having the forked lever 35 thereon which rides in a collar 36 on the wheel 33. A flat spring 37 frictionally engages the frame members 38 and 39 to hold the wheel 33 in any position to which it is moved. It is understood, of course, that the friction wheel 33 is drivingly connected to the shaft 13 by means of a spline or otherwise.

Fixed to the ends of the shaft M by means of set screws 4!) (see Fig. 2) are knurled knobs 4i and 42 having pulleys 43 and M, respectively, secured thereto. Connected to the pulleys 43 and 44 by means of pins 45 and 45 which are vertically disposed below the axis of the shaft I l when the pendulous carrier [6 is vertical, are tension springs 41 and 48, the other ends of which are shown as fixed to the handles 9 by means of the hooks 49 and 50. These springs normally but yieldingly hold the pendulous carrier 16 substantially vertical. The two knobs 4| and 42 are provided so that they may be manipulated conveniently by' either the rightor the left hand of the operator to turn, the shaft 14 and swing the pendulous carrier I6 back into a position such, for example, as that shown in Fig. 1; If the knob by which the carrier is swung into the position shown in Fig. 1 is released after the springs 41 and 48 have been stretched to the desired degree, they will impart a rapid forward swinging movement of the, carrier which will carry it past the dead center, and'the springs will then function as a brake to bring the carrier back to its normal vertical position after a few shown in Fig. 2, thepath of the. ball will. be

straight. However if it is desired to have the ball traverse aflcurved path, .a spinning movement may be imparted'thereto by moving either the arcuate plate 5! or the arcuate plate 52 into running contactwith the frictional wheel 33 and clampingit insuch a position, By reference to Fig. 2, it will .be notedthat thev arcuate plates or discs 5| and 52 are fixed to a base 53 which rides on top of the. uprights 1- and 8,. This, base 5.3.may beslid either to theright to, brin plate 5| in con- ,;leased; a wheel fixed to said shaft; manually movable means at one side of said shaft and normally spaced'from said wheel presenting a surface on which said wheel may roll when in contact therewith, and adapted, at the option of the operator, to be moved into frictional contact with said wheel for automatically imparting a spintact with, the friction wheel, orto the left to bring tohold the. plate inadiusteducontact with the Wheel. .33.

V Referring to liis., 1,.,it, Willbe pparent that, when the friction wheel 33 is p sitio e n ar the outer peripheral edge ofthe disc 52 and is in contact with said disc, it will roll; thereon through a comp rativ y 1.01 s Pathwhen the pendulous element swinesand thereby imparta rapid spinningmovement to the hallg ppine s a the ball therein. If itis desired to' impart a s wer spinning movementto the ball, the fri tion. wheelie mayheislid upwardly and to the lef asviewed in Fi -.11, by means of. he kn b 3.4, so, thatit vwillloenearer theaxis ofthe shaft is about whichitrevolves. Thu whenthe pen ulous element swings the wheel 33 will roll through a shorter are. and impart a slower spinn e movementto the ball. than when the po tion shownin Fig, 1.

While Lhave describedmy invention in its preferred embodiment. it is to be un rs o d th tthe words whichl hav usedarewords f d ption rather than of limitation and that changes, Within the purview of theappended, claim m y be made withoutdeparting from the true scope and spiritei. myinv nticn in its broader. a pect v Whatlclaim is;

,1. Ina device. for hurling a toy bowling ball, the combination with a pendulous element comising a pendu ousshaftrhaving ball-g pp "hing-movement to said wheel, said shaft, said ball gripping means, and a ball held in said gripping means during said rapid swinging movement of said element aftertherelease t e e f; a d means for automatica ly re in seidrbell' fr m s d ripp n means at a p e et rmin d in n 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 together wi hmenu lly adjusta le means for vary n the rate ofsninn ne m vem n imparted to said l- 3.,I1i. adevicefor hurling av toy bowling ball; the combination with a pendulous element comprising a pendulous shaft having ball-grippin means affixed tothe lower end thereof; of means forming, a horizontal axis from which said element is suspended and aboutwhich said element may swing'freely; bearings in said element in which said shaft isfreely rotatable; a spring cooperating with said element and normally maintaining it and said shaft substantially vertical but adaptedto impart a rapid swinging movementtosaid element when said elementis manually swung out of its;normal position and t en released; a wheel f xedto said shaft; manually-movable means presenting plane; surfaces on opposite, sidesflof said shaft; normally in spaced relation to said wheel but on either of which said wheel mayrollwhenin contact therewith adapted respectively, at the option of the operator,; to be selectivelymoved into frictional contact with said wheel for automatically imparting a; spinning movement in either-direction to said wheel; saidshaft, said ball gripping means, and; a ball held in said gripping means, in-eitherdirection, at the op tion of the operator, during said rapid swinging movement o-f'- said 'eleme-ntiafter" the release thereof; and means'for automatically releasing said ball from saidgripping means at a predetermined instant.

4. The structure set forthin claim 13 together with manually adju able means f r varying the rate of'spinning movement: imparted to said ball.

5; In a device for hurling a toybowling ball, the combination with means for gripping said ball; of means for pendulously supporting said ripping means to swing freely about a horizontal axisya spring cooperating with said pendulous means, and normally holding it substantially vertical, for imparting a rapid swinging movement'to said gripping'means when said pendulous means is manually swung out of itsnormal position and then released; means for automatical- 1y releasing said ball from said gripping means at a predetermined point in the swinging movement thereof; a first means cooperating with said pendulous means for automatically imparting a spinning movement in one direction to said gripping means and a ball therein during said rapid swinging movement of said pendulous means; a second similar means for automatically imparting a spinning movement to said gripping means but in a direction opposite that imparted thereto by said first means; and

manually operable means for selectively putting- -zontal shaft; means including bearings, in which said pendulous shaft is freely rotatable, for suspending said pendulous shaft to swing; freely on said horizontal shaft; a spring normally holding said pendulous shaft substantially vertical but adapted to impart a rapid swinging movement thereto when said pendulous shaft is manually moved out of. its normal position and then released; a friction wheel mounted on said pendulous shaft intermediate the ends thereof for rotating the same; a plate having a plane surface parallel to the axis of said pendulous shaft and normally in laterally spaced relation to said wheel, a mounting for said plate adapting it to be moved into and out of frictional contact with said wheel to provide a surface on which said wheel may roll during a swinging movement of said pendulous shaft automatically to impart a spinning movement to said gripping means and a ball held thereby; and means for automatically releasing said ball from said gripping means at a predetermined point in the swinging movement thereof. a

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 in which said friction wheel is slidably mounted on said pendulous, shaft, and said device is provided with manually operable means for sliding said wheel on said shaft and holding it in slid position; whereby to vary the rate of spinning movement imparted to said gripping means and said ball.

9. In a device for hurling a toy bowling ball, the combination with means for gripping said ball, of a pendulous shaft having said gripping means affixed to the lower end thereof; a horizontal shaft; means including bearings, in which said pendulous shaft is freely rotatable, for suspending said pendulous shaft toswing freely on said horizontal shaft; a spring normally holding said pendulous shaft substantially vertical but adapted to impart a rapid swingingmovement thereto when said pendulous shaft is manually moved out of its normal position and then released; a friction wheel mounted on said pendulous shaft intermediate the ends thereof for rotating the same; a pair of plates disposed on opposite sides of said shaft and normally in spaced relation to said wheel providing surfaces on either of which said wheel may roll during a swinging movement of said pendulous shaft when brought in contact therewith automatically to impart a spinning motion to said gripping means and a ball held thereby; and manually operable means for moving either of said plates into and holding it in contact with said wheel.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9 in which said friction wheel is slidably mounted on said pendulous shaft, and said device is provided with manually operable means for sliding said wheel on said shaft and holding it in slid position; whereby to vary the rate of spinning movement imparted to said gripping means and said ball.

MARTIN HUBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Germany Sept. 20, 19.02 

